Because batteries are bulky and heavy, lightweighting is one of the biggest challenges facing the automotive industry today. Engineers at LS Cable & Systems Ltd. (LS C&S), a leading supplier based in South Korea, believe aluminum wiring is the answer.
The company recently developed a new high-strength aluminum material that has been assigned alloy number AA8031 by the Aluminum Association. It boasts an enhanced strength of over 40 percent compared to traditional aluminum materials, which have been criticized for their weakness, and improved malleability. Another disadvantage of aluminum—where conductivity drops when strength is enhanced—has also been improved.